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Sexual harassment claims against American Samoa DPS now with the EEOC in Honolulu

Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson [SN file photo]
Sources say the move was necessary because of Le'i's failure to act
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The recent cases involving the alleged sexual harassment of two female cops by a pair of senior DPS officers is moving up to the next level, as the matter has now reached the   Office of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Honolulu.

Samoa News understands that a copy of the formal police complaints are now with the Director of the EEOC office in Honolulu and according to sources, the move to direct the case to the next level was based on the fact that Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson failed to take corrective action when the two female cops complained about the harassment.

“When the employer fails to address workplace harassment, employees often feel that they must choose between putting up with the abuse, or quitting. No one should have to make that choice,” the source said.

“Against all odds, the female officers struggled to file their complaints, and up to now no criminal cases have been filed against the alleged perpetrators,” the source continued.

The head of the criminal division of the Attorney General's Office, Christy Dunn continues to remain silent about the details of the case.

 When Samoa News approached her last Friday to get an update about the two cases, her response was, “Sorry, I have no comment to offer about the case.”

Efforts to obtain a comment from EEOC director, Glory Gervacio during the weekend were also unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, several senior cops who have been on the force for many years and continue to serve the Department of Public Safety with honor and respect, together with some retired cops, are calling for the Police Commissioner to step up and make the right decision against the two senior cops who have been accused of sexually harassing two young female police officers, during working hours.

One senior police officer told Samoa News that there are other cases involving questionable actions by cops on duty.

One has to do with a cop who allegedly divorced his wife after he became involved with a woman who was a victim in a domestic case that he was assigned to investigate.

The cop in this case was a detective with the DPS Criminal Investigation Division (CID), but he has since been transferred to another division within DPS.

According to the source, this particular case ruined the good name of the police department because the matter reached the Commissioner's Office, after the wife of the police officer (who is now the ex-wife) went to the Commissioner to file her complaint.

“The Detective was assigned to investigate a domestic case; unfortunately, things changed and turned upside down when the detective allegedly started a relationship with the victim,” the source continued, adding that things like this should never happen in the police department because they are sworn to uphold the law and do the right thing.

A retired cop has told Samoa News that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga needs to do something about this issue because his failure to act is a reflection of his Administration.